CollegeVine Expert FAQ

I'm really keen on the whole vibe at the University of Michigan—awesome sports, strong engineering and business programs, and a bustling college town. Problem is, it's super competitive. What are some …

A bit stressed here, folks. I've taken the SAT a couple of times and I wanna know, do colleges require all the scores from every time I've taken it? Or can I just send my best score? I have one test t …

Can someone explain how to get into honors classes for my senior year? My school hasn't been super clear about the process and I want to make sure I do it right to strengthen my college applications.

Hi guys, I'm a sophomore who just took the PSAT and I'm kind of curious (or maybe a little stressed) – does my PSAT score even matter at this point? Will colleges look at it, or is it purely for my ow …

Hi peers, I need a bit of advice. Currently, I'm debating whether to drop some honors classes for next year to focus on extracurriculars and reduce stress. Will eliminating honors classes from my juni …

Hey guys, I'm a bit confused about the whole honors vs AP classes debate. Could someone explain the main differences between the two, and if possible, which is generally considered more impressive to …

I took the PSAT and am kinda hopeful about National Merit. Just wondering, when do they usually announce the semifinalists? Is there a set month or does it vary each year?

Quick question for y'all - once the PSAT is done and dusted, how exactly do you see your scores online? I've heard it can be a bit confusing, and I want to make sure I don't mess anything up when the …

So, I'm planning out my schedule for next year and can't decide if taking Pre-Calculus is a must. For a student aiming for fairly competitive colleges but not necessarily Ivy League, do I need Pre-Cal …

Kinda stressed junior here - Is taking chemistry actually a must for college admissions? It's really not my best subject and I'm trying to figure out if it'll hurt my chances if I don't take it. Do co …

So I've been debating between taking more college prep classes vs. honors courses. I know honors are generally seen as more rigorous, but I don't want to overwhelm myself. From the perspective of coll …

Okay, so I've heard from pretty much everyone that taking the PSAT NMSQT is a good move, but I'm in the dark about how to actually sign up for it. Could someone who's recently gone through the process …

Hey folks, I'm brainstorming colleges to apply to, and I've heard a lot about Georgetown University. What's the buzz about? What academic programs or opportunities at Georgetown are especially renowne …

I just heard from a friend that some colleges require you to have the meningitis vaccine. Is this true for all colleges or only specific ones? I'm a little worried cause I'm not a big fan of needles.

I've been going back and forth on whether college is the right path for me. Are there careers out there where college isn't necessary, or is a degree a universal requirement nowadays?

Hey guys, just wondering if colleges still require foreign language credits for admission? I've taken Spanish for a couple of years but not sure if I should continue for my junior and senior year. How …

Hey everyone, just curious, but I've heard through the grapevine that you can get scholarships from doing well on the PSAT. How legit is this information? Has anyone here scored a scholarship and can …

I'm in awe of CalArts because of their reputation in animation and the arts. But Yikes, the admission stats are scaring me. Do any of you know of schools that are a tad less elite but still have stron …

Just moved to a new school, and I'm looking to get into honors classes. What's the typical process for getting into these classes in high school? Do I need certain grades or teacher recommendations? A …

I'm trying to plan out my application expenses and was wondering, does it cost money to send out college applications through the Common App? Do all the colleges have the same fee or does it vary?